( http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/us.htm ) ...
As of July 2010, there are more one MILLION Americans living with HIV... while 21% (1 in 5 ) of those living with the infection, DON'T know! More than 18,000 people with AIDS still die each year in the US.
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are strongly affected and represent the majority of persons who have died.
---This is something that brings up another can of worms but we will discuss this later!
Here is an interesting pie chart:
This epidemic is nothing we want to take lightly!! Especially in the black community. Here is a chart that will help you see how we are affected by the HIV virus...
Estimated Rates of New HIV Infections,
by Race/Ethnicity and Gender, 2006
Why is this the case for our community??
--- Check this scenario out:
Lesha (22) is in love with Devin (24), and they are in a "monogamous" relationship. He had recently broke up with his ex-girlfriend Jackie() around 6months before truly dedicating to Lesha. They share intimate moments with each other! Lesha has only been with Devin and she plans to keep it that way... They talk about marriage, family and buying a home together! Before Lesha decided to give on of her most precious attributes to Devin she had insisted that they get tested just to make sure! Devin didn't see it as urgent as Lesha did and he then convinced her to wait and just trust that he wouldn't hurt her. Without knowing he had contracted the HIV Virus from his previous girlfriend Jakie, Devin lived his life comfortably. After one year of being faithful to each other Lesha goes to the her doctor for a check up and a random STI/STD check...She waits a few week for the last of the results. she then receives a phone call to report to the doctor as soon as possible. While meeting with the doctor she found that she had contracted the HIV virus. Hurt and confused she went home and cried until here eyes were sore. When Devin came home Lesha asked him about the last time he went to the doctor. He answered her with "its been awhile. But im going soon don't worry. I said I wont hurt you. Don't you trust me?" Lesha answered him saying" i thought you were going to get checked last year, you know when we first talked about it." Devin replied " baby I'm going, dang whats the problem?" Lesha jumps up and shouts "WHATS THE PROBLEM? WHATS THE PROBLEM?" With a river of tears flowing down her her face, spirit crushed and dreams washed away, hopes balled into a mass of nothingness she continues in a shout of almost empty word as they hit Devins ears "THE PROBLEM IS THE ONE TIME I GAVE MY SELF TO SOMEONE MY FULL SELF, MIND, BODY ,AND SPIRIT, THE PERSON I TRUST WITH THE VERY CORE OF MY BEING, THE ONE I GIVE MY ALL TO AS A GIFT OF LOVE, THE GIFT I AM GIVEN BACK FROM YOU IS HIV!!!!!"
--The moral to this story is to make sure you pay attention to your status... There are several key elements that were pointed out in the story which indeed we all can identify with (at least one element) What did this speak to you?
Time to be FOR REAL about our lives! Speak Up and STAND on what MORALS YOU POSSES!
No comments:
Post a Comment